Machine Learning Engineer I (US)

Payscale is the original compensation innovator for organizations who want to scale their business with pay and transform their largest investment into their greatest advantage. With decades of innovation in sourcing reputable data and developing AI-powered tools, Payscale delivers actionable insights that turn pay from a cost to a catalyst. Its suite of solutions — Payfactors, Marketpay, and Paycycle — empower 65% of the top companies in the U.S. and businesses like Panasonic, ZoomInfo, Chipotle, Quest Diagnostics, University of Washington, American Airlines, and TJX Companies.

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Job Summary

We’re looking for an early-career Machine Learning Engineer to help take models built by our Data Science team and turn them into reliable, production-ready services. As a member of our Data Engineering team, you will play a critical role in reviewing, optimizing, and deploying AI/ML models into production environments. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers and data scientists, contributing to model packaging, training, deployment, integration, testing, and monitoring—while growing your MLOps and software engineering skills.

What You'll Do:

• Partner with Data Science to package models for deployment and integrate them into our products and internal services.

• Implement and improve ML deployment and inference workflows (batch and/or real-time), including automation and CI/CD patterns with guidance from senior engineers.

• Build and maintain API endpoints or services that expose model predictions, including input validation, error handling, and documentation.

• Write tests (unit/performance/integration) to validate model behavior and service reliability; help create repeatable validation checks and release processes.

• Instrument services with logging/metrics and help monitor production behavior; participate in incident triage and troubleshooting with support from the team.

• Contribute to performance and cost improvements through profiling and practical techniques like batching, basic caching, and efficiency-minded design.

• Stay current on relevant AI/ML engineering best practices and share learnings with the team.

Technologies We Use:

• Python, C#, Docker, Kubernetes, Azure, AWS, Redis, Octopus Deploy, FastAPI, Pytorch, LightGBM, TeamCity, Locust, DataDog

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• 1+ years of experience (including internships/co-ops) building software in a production environment.

• Proficiency in Python with a focus on readable, testable code.

• Familiarity with core ML concepts and at least one ML framework (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn).

• Familiarity with building or consuming APIs (HTTP/JSON) and basic service development patterns.

• Comfort working in a collaborative environment: asking questions, communicating tradeoffs, and incorporating feedback.

• Willingness to learn cloud, containerization, and MLOps practices as part of day-to-day work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exposure to MLOps tools or patterns (e.g., MLflow, Airflow, Kubeflow, feature stores, model registries).

• Experience with containers (Docker) and/or orchestration (Kubernetes).

• Experience with observability tools (e.g., Datadog, Prometheus/Grafana) and production troubleshooting.

• Basic performance tuning experience (profiling, async patterns, caching concepts).

• Experience working with data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Spark) or large-scale data pipelines.

Location

Payscale has an employee centric remote-first model that provides you the flexibility to do your best work in a space that supports you, while also finding time to collaborate in person for the moments that matter.

In our remote-first model, employees can work from the location that works best for them. We do not have centralized corporate offices. Employees can choose to work from home, in company-paid co-working spaces, or any combination of the two that best suits their unique needs.

If you work from home, we recommend ensuring that you can meet the following technology, equipment and workspace requirements:

• High-Speed Internet - A stable broadband or fiber connection (satellite is highly discouraged) with a minimum speed of 100 Mbps in a dedicated workspace that has a reliable Wi-Fi signal.

• Device for Multifactor Authentication (MFA/2FA) - smartphone, tablet, etc.

When it matters (usually no more than a few times a year) we take the time to gather for in-person events.

Payscale has employees across the US, Canada, UK, The Philippines and Romania however we are currently unable to hire in the Quebec Province, Northern Ireland, and Hawaii.

Benefits and Perks

All around awesome culture where together we strive to live our 5 values:

• Data informed decision making.

• Customer first. Always.

• Succeed together.

• Relentless about results. Obsessed with excellence.

• Lead the change. Shape the standard.

An open and inclusive environment where you’ll learn and grow through programs and resources like:

• Monthly company All Hands meetings

• Regular opportunities for executive leadership exposure through things like AMAs

• Access to continued learning & development opportunities

• Our commitment to a continuous feedback culture which allows us to drive performance and career growth

• A growing network of Employee Resource Groups

• Company sponsored volunteer hours

• And more!

Our more standard benefits

• Flexible paid time off, giving you the opportunity to rest, relax and recharge away from work

• 14 Paid Company Holidays, includes 2 floating holidays (you choose!)

• A comprehensive benefits plan including medical, dental, life, vision, disability, and life insurance covered up to 100% by Payscale

• Unlimited infertility coverage benefits through our medical plans

• Additional supplemental health benefits offered to you and your family

• 401(k) retirement program with a fully vested immediate company match

• 16 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents

• Health Savings Account (HSA) options and company contributions each pay period

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options for pre-tax employee allocations

• Annual remote work stipend to be used on wellness or home office equipment

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We embrace equal employment opportunity. Payscale is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. It is our policy that employees will not be subjected to unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to: recruitment, hiring, transfers, promotions, training, discipline, termination, compensation and benefits, performance appraisals, education, and social and recreational programs.

We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply — we’d love to hear from you.

If you have a disability or impairment and need assistance with the application process, please email [email protected] for support.

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